Stroke Learning Center

Stroke

Overview

Stroke Overview

According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the
United States. Brain tissue loses oxygen and food when a blood vessel in the
brain ruptures and bleeds or if the blood supply to the brain is blocked. Brain
cells and tissue begin to die within minutes, which causes a stroke.

What Are Symptoms of Stroke?

numbness or weakness in the arms, face, or leg, especially
on one side of the body

difficulty speaking or understanding speech

confusion

slurring speech

trouble seeing in one or both eyes, with vision blackened or
blurred or double vision

trouble walking

loss of balance or coordination

dizziness

severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause

Call 911 if you think
someone is having a stroke. Fast treatment is key to preventing brain damage,
long-term disability, and death from a stroke.

Causes and Types of Strokes

A stroke caused by a blocked artery is called an
ischemic stroke. A stroke caused by a burst or leaking blood vessel is known as
a hemorrhagic stroke. Another type of stroke is a transient
ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke).

According to the CDC, most
strokes are ischemic strokes. In this type of stroke, the arteries supplying
blood to the brain narrow or get blocked. These blockages are often caused by
blood clots or blood flow that’s severely reduced. The two most common types of
ischemic strokes are thrombotic and embolic. A thrombotic stroke happens when a
blood clot forms in one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. Embolic
stroke is when a blood clot or other debris forms in another part of the body —
often the heart — and goes through the blood and gets stuck in brain arteries,
also causing a blood clot.

A hemorrhagic stroke
happens when an artery in the brain suddenly breaks open or leaks blood. That
leaking blood puts excess pressure in the skull and swells the brain, damaging brain
cells and tissues. This stroke is often caused by high blood pressure and
aneurysms. The two types of hemorrhagic strokes are subarachnoid and
intracerebral. Intracerebral is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke. It
happens when the tissues surrounding the brain fill with blood after an artery
bursts. Less common is the subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the
area between the brain and tissues that cover it.

Known as a TIA or a
mini-stroke, a transient ischemic attack is when blood flow to the brain is
blocked for under five minutes. Symptoms may be temporary and disappear after a
few minutes. A TIA is often caused by a blood clot and is a warning of a future
stroke. Don’t ignore a TIA. Seek the same treatment you would for a major
stroke.

Risk Factors for Stroke

Certain risk factors make you
more susceptible to stroke.The more risk factors you have,
the more likely you are to have a stroke. One risk factor is an unhealthy diet.
This means your diet is high in salt, saturated fats, trans fat and cholesterol.
All of these are linked to stroke.

Inactivity can also raise your risk for stroke. The CDC recommends that adults get 2.5
hours of aerobic exercise every week. That can mean a brisk walk a few times a
week.

The risk for stroke also increases if you drink too much alcohol. According to
the Mayo Clinic, alcohol
consumption should be in moderation. This means no more than one drink per day
for women and no more than two for men. More than that may raise blood pressure
levels and triglyceride levels, which can harden your arteries. Using tobacco
also raises your risk since it can damage your blood vessels and heart. The
same goes for smoking because your blood pressure rises when you use nicotine.

Certain risk factors for stroke you can’t control. Stroke risk can be linked to
your:

family
history

sex

age

race

ethnicity

Stroke risk is higher in some
families because health issues like high blood pressure can be based on genetic
issues. According to the CDC, both women and men can have strokes, but it’s more common in men than in women for most age groups. Age is also a risk
factor. You’re more likely to have a stroke the older you are. Asians and non-Hispanic
whites are less likely to have a stroke than African-Americans, Hispanics,
Alaska natives, and American Indians.

As mentioned above, certain medical conditions are
linked to a stroke risk. These include:

having
already had a stroke or a TIA

high
blood pressure

high
cholesterol

heart
disorders such as coronary artery disease

heart
valve defects

enlarged
heart chambers and irregular heartbeats

sickle
cell disease

diabetes

Diagnosis of Stroke

Several tests can help determine:

if you had a stroke

what may have caused it

what part of the brain is impacted

if you have bleeding in the brain

These
tests can also determine if your symptoms are being caused by something else.

You’ll get a physical exam. The doctor will check your
balance and coordination, weakness or numbness in your arms, face, and legs,
signs of confusion, and vision.

The doctor will ask you or a family member about your symptoms
and what you were doing when they happened. They’ll take your medical history
to find out your stroke risk factors. The doctor will ask what medications you
take, check your blood pressure, and listen to your heart.

Tests for Stroke

You may go through various tests to further help determine if you’ve had a stroke. Your doctor might call for
blood tests. That can determine:

your
blood sugar levels

if
you have an infection

your
platelet levels

how
fast your blood clots

You may undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a
computerized tomography (CT) scan. The MRI will help see if there is any changed
brain tissue or damaged brain cells. A CT scan will provide a detailed and
clear picture of your brain and show any bleeding or damage in the brain. It
may also show other brain conditions that may be causing your symptoms.

You may get an electrocardiogram (EKG). This simple
test records the electrical activity in the heart, measuring its rhythm and recording
how fast it beats. It can help find out if you have any heart conditions that
may have led to stroke, such as a prior heart attack.

Other tests may include a cerebral angiogram. This offers
a detailed look at the arteries in your neck and brain. You may get a carotid
ultrasound, which can show fatty deposits (plaque) and whether your carotid
arteries have been narrowed or blocked. You also may receive an echocardiogram,
which can find sources of clots in your heart that may have traveled to your
brain and caused a stroke.

Prevention

You can take measures to prevent
stroke by living a healthy lifestyle. That means not smoking and limiting how
much alcohol you drink. If you smoke, quitting will lower your risk for stroke.
Alcohol consumption can raise your blood pressure, so try to reduce your
intake.

Keep your weight at a healthy level. Being obese or overweight increases your
stroke risk. Eat a diet that’s healthy and full of fruits and vegetables. Eat
foods low in cholesterol, trans fat, and saturated fats. Stay physically active
to maintain a healthy weight and help decrease your blood pressure and
cholesterol levels.

Be on top of your health. Get your cholesterol and blood pressure checked. Talk
to your doctor about modifying your lifestyle and discuss your medication
options. Address any heart problems. If you have diabetes, take steps to manage
it. Taking all these measures will help put you in optimal shape to prevent
stroke.

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.